A water permeable electrode for electrochemical splitting of water having
a light sensitive catalytic material layer which includes a light
sensitive catalytic material and a semiconductor, a polymer electrolyte
membrane layer, a metallic substrate layer disposed there between
adjacent the polymer electrolyte membrane layer, and at least one
photovoltaic device connected in series to the light sensitive catalytic
material layer and disposed between the light sensitive catalytic
material layer and the metallic substrate layer.